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Guitar gear vs Bass gear?

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Domigan_Lefty  
23 Jul 2011 09:37 | Quote
Joined: 20 Sep 2009
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I've been using all my guitar gear with a Bass, and I compared it with someone I know who has all Bass gear, and I don't notice any huge differences besides the normal different brand different tone.

So why do I keep getting yelled at to buy bass gear when my guitar gear works fine with my bass? (I use Boss ML-2 distortion, DigiTech Whammy, Dunlop Crybaby, and a Flanger through a 100w Fender Frontman [mostly bypassed until an epic bass solo or other heavy needs])
case211  
23 Jul 2011 12:08 | Quote
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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Bass amp circuity is geared for bass--guitar for guitar.
You can definitely use a bass through guitar gear, but it's not the best representation of the tone you could get.
Bass amp's IMO should have 4x10s for that ultra tight punch, since 15s have a lot of low end, but not the hit-you-in-the-chest low end. 12s are somewhere in the middle I suspect, but I'm not about to let anyone play anything other than a guitar through my gear haha
telecrater  
24 Jul 2011 13:35 | Quote
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
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Bass gear is optimized for that lower end sound where guitar is going to be more trebile. When you get some bass gear you will notice a lot more punch.
Domigan_Lefty  
24 Jul 2011 14:22 | Quote
Joined: 20 Sep 2009
United States
Karma: 8
If it had any more punch it would break a hole in the wall.
telecrater  
24 Jul 2011 21:27 | Quote
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
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Maybe punch is the wrong word but you will be a better rounded bass tone.

Here is are my amps, on top a Randall RG75 guitar amp with 12 in cel speaker on the bottom a late 80's solid state yamaha bass amp with mystery speaker.

Take my word for it the bass sounds 1000% better though the bass amp especially with my 5 sting bass. It sounds punchy, meaty and sometimes growling. the guitar amp make it just sound weak.

For real try it out, drag your guitar amp and bass to a music store and play them side by side and crank it. I think you will be amazed at the diffrence.

Then again maybe the bass through guitar amp is the tone your after and who am i to judge. But you did ask why your getting yelled at....

Cheers bro and best of luck








RA  
24 Jul 2011 23:28 | Quote
Joined: 24 Sep 2008
United States
Karma: 16
just think of it in terms of the violin family to give it a visual perspective. The amplification of acoustic instruments (as you should know) come form the body of the instruments. Each member of this family of instruments body's have over years been shape over and over to optimize the perspective sound to blend together. The tops are actually carved to a certain pitch (i believe Villon is F#).

so just think of a cello put on a Violin body it would be very silly not to mention hard to actually hear.

so while a bass amp may look somewhat the same whats going on in inside is very different.

ultimately, your playing them separate. record something you will immediately find out why you need a bass amp..... or you have really bad ears.

also I don't know you amp spec but you could potentially blow the cone.

telecrater says:
Then again maybe the bass through guitar amp is the tone your after and who am i to judge. But you did ask why your getting yelled at....


I second that in the end.


*added note* in case you think, "what about the acoustic bass guitar that's not that much bigger then the guitar they show me in me MTV. shouldn't they be playing the traditional acoustic bass?" The development that for only became relevant for MTV unplugged. It is visual crap-o-la, based of imagery for the modern rocker. Musically it is retarded and no serious musician that was any good in a non-pop sense would be caught dead with it, if they could avoid it anyway.
gx1327  
26 Jul 2011 12:35 | Quote
Joined: 20 Sep 2009
United States
Karma: 9
the biggest difference in bass gear is that the speakers are bigger and capable of moving more air, which is physically necessary to create a lower-end sound.

it's not to say that it's impossible to get a good bass sound with other gear. it's just an optimization thing.

you will get a better bass sound with 4x12" speakers than you will with 2x10" speakers. that's just how sound works. how much better? well that's subjective.

use what you like.
V3N0M3333  
26 Jul 2011 15:45 | Quote
Joined: 17 Mar 2011
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from what I've heard

1x12\
2x10 ----more open sound...."dirty tone" as i like to say
2x12/ best example: doig aldrich

4x10\
----more closed sound...."bubbly tone"
4x12/ best example: synyster gates


my examples are not based on what cabinet size they use
these just sound exactly like i described them
case211  
26 Jul 2011 16:33 | Quote
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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You've also got to remember that there is a difference between a true bass cab and a guitar cab. A true* size bass cab will be something like 18" depth, while guitar cabs are usually going to be around 13" depth. With 4x10s and 18" depth, you'll have clarity, punch, and definition without sounding flabby(barring you have a decent head running the cab).

*As in what a bass cab should be, but most companies don't make it that depth anymore. Genz Benz and some other higher end companies still offer that depth.



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